Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones delivered a strong performance in the 0-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the Selhurst Park Stadium. The Reds continued their strong form, winning their ninth game from 10 matches in all competitions so far this season.
As Liverpool heads into the October international break, they will maintain the top position in the Premier League. Tough fixtures await after the international break, creating heavy congestion and giving every player a chance to secure first-team opportunities.
Head coach Arne Slot has mostly used Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as the starting midfield trio. However, the new Liverpool boss made few changes for the tricky game against Palace by providing Jones his second start.
The 23-year-old only started against West Ham United in the 5-1 victory in the Carabao Cup competition before this game. The Englishman lived up to his manager’s faith, delivering a strong performance as a replacement for Szoboszlai in the game.
Jones and Szoboszlai have a vastly different style of play and provide Slot with different options to use tactically. The 23-year-old provides more calmness in possession than Szoboszlai who is more direct in his approach.
Liverpool enjoyed 68% of the possession during the game to negate the hosts’ rhythm whenever they bombed forward. Furthermore, dictating the tempo allowed Liverpool to calm the notorious Selhurst Park crowd, which is psychologically important for Palace.
According to SofaScore, Jones made 47 passes with 98% passing accuracy in his 89-minute display before Wataru Endo substituted him. The 23-year-old made two key passes and enjoyed 100% accuracy in the long pass along with a 100% dribbling attempt.
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Furthermore, Jones won three out of seven ground duels and 100% aerial duels while making two clearances and one tackle. The calm display from the Englishman along with his all-round performance alongside Ryan Gravenberch helped Liverpool secure the narrow victory.
